Brand: Rimmel
Range: Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick
Shades: 107, 111, 113
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• Further to my other Kate Moss Lasting Finish lipstick swatches (Part 1 and Part 2), today I have the Matte Lipstick which comes in a total 6 matte shades in a new matte red packaging.
• Formulated with Ruby Powder, the velvety matte finish is incredibly lightweight and flexible, making it comfortable to wear.  It does grip well to the lip surface, which means you get a richly pigmented seamless coverage, but the “character” of your lips stays visible with no particular smoothing effects other than the diffused matte finish.
• Out of the 6 shades available I received 3 shades – 107 (deep red), 111 (rich red) and 113 (nude).  In real life, shade 111 (rich red) is a richer red closer to how it looks on the tube, as opposed to a bright red which the swatches suggest.
• The formula is non-drying & looks much softer when applied on moisturised lips, or on top of a moisturising lip stain.   I only swatched 2 shades as I wasn’t so lucky with the nude shade 113, which clashed with my lip tone & accentuated every little lip flaw, even flakes I didn’t even know I had.  Therefore I only recommend the nude shade if you have a pale lip tone & no issues with dry lips.
• Long lasting rich pigments that fade gracefully
  
• Verdict: The matte red lip trend is here to stay, so if you’re looking to add a matte shade or two to your lipstick wardrobe that won’t break your wallet I recommend trying Rimmel Kate Moss’s matte lipstick range.  It’s pigmented enough that you only need a lip brush – no lip liner required.

Swatched over a layer of Nivea Lip Butter.

RRP: $12.95 AUD

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: L’Oreal Paris
Range: Shine Caresse Lip Colour
Shades: Lolita 101, Romy 102, Marilyn 103, Princess 200, Juliet 300, Eve 400, Milady 402, Bonnie 501.
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• L’Oreal Paris Shine Caresse Lip Colours have an ultra-light fluid texture, that is a unique formulation of 30% water and 60% oil that boosts lip hydration and is comfortable to wear.
• The foam applicator has a hole in the centre, specially designed to remove any excess colour leaving a veil-like lustruous finish.
• The formula takes a while to set, making it easy to fix bloopers while it is still wet.
• Sheer buildable coverage – 2 layers is perfect for my pigmented lips, but for some shades I needed around as many as 3 layers for photography purposes.
• Available in 8 shades – Lolita, Romy, Marilyn, Princess, Juliet, Eve, Milady and Bonnie.

Are these dupes of YSL Glossy Stain?

• Both have lightweight fluid textures that have a non-sticky but slightly tacky finish.
• Both are long lasting and fade gracefully into a light stain, but YSL lasted slightly longer whilst L’Oreal left more of a stain.
• YSL sets quicker than L’Oreal where you’re left with that oil/water film that takes just a few more seconds to set.
• YSL has a more vibrant colour range & is richer in pigment but it’s offset by a water colour finish. Except for a few, most shades from L’Oreal are more subdued and need several layers to build coverage.
• YSL’s taste is noticeably synthetic, whereas L’Oreal has sweetened theirs slightly in an attempt to mask the synthetic taste – but I can still taste it.
• YSL does a better job at reviving tired dry lips & camouflaging lip flaws than L’Oreal, which only looks best on healthy lips.

Verdict: With both lip stains coming from the same umbrella company (YSL Beauty is owned by L’Oreal), it’s tempting to draw conclusions that they are dupes for each other.  I’d say that L’Oreal offers very impressive & similar results to YSL but I wouldn’t go as far as saying that one is replaceable for the other.  Where L’Oreal stands out from YSL is how easy it is to control just the right amount & it stains better than YSL if that’s what you like in a lip product.  Even though YSL has more sophisticated pigments, L’Oreal’s finish (once set) is more polished than the water colour finish of YSL that I find messy when combined with shades such as red & coral  hence why I only own one shade from YSL Glossy Stain).

Click on the lip swatches to view enlarged images.

Click on the lip swatches to view enlarged images.

RRP: $23.95 AUD

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: Chanel
Range: Rouge Coco
Shades: Liaison 49, Sentiment 48 (Avant Première de Chanel Collection for Spring 2013)
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

From the 1930s and throughout her life, Mademoiselle Chanel was courted by film directors in both France and Hollywood to create costumes for some of the most beautiful stars of the time.  Collection Avant-Première is Peter Philips’ homage to the classic movies which showcased her creations. Rouge Coco’s are a collection of contemporary, feminine lip colours styled on the philosophy of Mademoiselle Chanel: easy to wear and free of constraint.

Liaison #49 – soft satiny pink

Sentiment #48 – natural beige with peach tones

Swatched over a layer of Nivea Lip Butter.  The coverage is heavier if you apply directly onto lips without lip balm.

I’m wearing Liaison topped with Coffret D’or BU Rouge PK-262

RRP: $50 AUD

These products were sent for consideration.

Brand: Maybelline
Range: NY Color Sensational High Shine Gloss
Shades: Almond Crush, Electric Shock, Plum Lustre, Iced Chocolate, Glisten Up Pink, Captivating Coral, Mirrored Mauve, One Shine Day, Gleaming Grenadine, Luminous Latte
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• Give your lips a luminous look with finishes that range from molten glazes through to juicy sheens.
• Wax free formula that glides incredibly smoothly, melting into lips coating them evenly without sinking into lines or sliding.
• Despite being infused with Maybelline’s signature honey nectar ingredient, I find this collection features a strong scent of fruit chews (like Starbursts).
• Available in 10 shades from petal pinks to eye popping coral.
• Verdict: It’s not everyday that I’m impressed by a high street lip gloss range, but the smooth “lip hugging” formula has captivated me.  My favourite shades are Plum Luster (which I’m saving for Autumn), Electric Shock (cool pink that sits amazingly well even on my pigmented lips) and Iced Chocolate (creamy nude).

Click on lip swatches to enlarge images

 RRP: $15.95 AUD

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: Artdeco
Range: Art Couture Lipstick Classic (Butterfly Dreams Collection – Limited Edition)
Shades: Cream Spring Fever & Cream Sweet Red
Swatched by the lovely: Vesna

• The Spring 2013 limited edition Butterfly Dreams Collection features 2 lipsticks in their “Art Couture Lipstick Classic” range – Cream Spring Fever (discreet nude) & Cream Sweet Red (classic red).
• Art Couture Lipstick Classics are described as “ultra soft, supple in texture with a sensual shine” with a unique pillow soft finish thanks to the gel formula that glides smoothly for a creamy finish that’s softening, soothing and nourishing.
• Visit Vesna’s blog at Beauty & Mess to check out the rest of the Butterfly Dreams Collection.
• Thanks Vesna for the gorgeous swatch!

L-R: Cream Spring Fever (265), Cream Sweet Red (258)

Cream Spring Fever (265),

Cream Sweet Red (258)

L-R: Cream Sweet Red (258), Cream Spring Fever (265)